ZSL London Zoo, The Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY
Butterfly Paradise
experience · Wildlife watching
Place photograph
5.4
Wildland
Under 1 hour
Time
Paid
Cost
Atmospheric
Feel
Why it's Wildland
5.4A walk-through tropical habitat where butterflies fly freely overhead, with a pupae room offering a closer look at their life cycle. London Zoo says its 1981 invertebrate exhibit was the world’s first butterfly house.
This is a distinctive, carefully planted wildlife encounter rather than a wild landscape: hundreds of butterflies from tropical forest regions share a heated walk-through habitat with visitors. Its strongest detail is the chance to look beyond the free-flying adults to eggs, caterpillars and pupae.
Atmospheric
Find your way
Open mapZSL London Zoo, The Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY
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The experience
Walk through the heated, tropical-style habitat and watch for butterflies in flight, then look for eggs, caterpillars and developing pupae. The habitat also introduces conservation work and the pressures facing butterfly diversity.
Things to do
Walk through the tropical habitat
Enter the heated, carefully planted enclosure and watch for free-flying butterflies from tropical forest regions.
Look for the earlier stages of the life cycle
Check the pupae holding room and look for the eggs, caterpillars and developing pupae identified by the zoo.
Watch the feeding stations
Pause at the butterfly feeding stations and observe the insects at close range.
Make a day of it
Quick escape · Under 1 hour
Quick Escape: Walk Among the Butterflies
- 01
Walk through the tropical-style habitat and watch for butterflies flying freely overhead.
- 02
Pause at the feeding stations to observe butterflies up close.
- 03
Visit the pupae holding room to look for different stages of development.
Half day · Allow extra time within your zoo visit
Look Closer: Follow the Butterfly Life Cycle
- 01
Begin in the walk-through habitat and look among the planting for butterflies.
- 02
Seek out the eggs and caterpillars highlighted by the zoo.
- 03
Continue to the pupae holding room and look for developing pupae or an emergence, if one is visible.
- 04
Use the habitat’s conservation focus to consider how species recovery and habitat protection relate to butterflies.
Verified history
London Zoo says that in 1981 it created an exhibit developed exclusively for invertebrates, featuring mainly butterflies and moths, and describes it as the world’s first butterfly house. The current Butterfly Paradise habitat launched in May 2006. Its giant-caterpillar-inspired design is planted and heated to about 27°C for the invertebrates it houses.
Hidden details
The pupae holding room — Look beyond the adult butterflies: the room displays pupae as they develop, and visitors may see a butterfly emerge.
A habitat shaped like a caterpillar — The zoo says the walk-through habitat was designed to resemble a giant caterpillar and is maintained at around 27°C.
When to go
· Not established by the supplied sources; check current zoo information.
The supplied source describes a heated habitat but does not give a seasonal schedule or identify a best month.
The habitat is heated to around 27°C. The source does not provide other visitor weather guidance.
What to look for
Look for tiny butterfly eggs, large caterpillars, pupae in the holding room and butterflies at the feeding stations.
The story
Science
Best time to go
Check current exhibit information before visiting; no seasonal schedule is established by the supplied source.
Check the zoo’s current visitor information before planning a visit; the supplied source does not identify a best time of day.
How long to spend
Under 1 hour
Perfect for
Families · Young children · Wildlife lovers · Photographers
Before you go
Address
Phone
Website
Listed hours
- Monday: 10am-5pm
- Tuesday: 10am-5pm
- Wednesday: 10am-5pm
- Thursday: 10am-5pm
- Friday: 10am-5pm
- Saturday: 10am-5pm
- Sunday: 10am-5pm
Check before visiting.
Google rating
Practical information
Opening & access
A walk-through tropical butterfly habitat at ZSL London Zoo. The zoo’s page lists the habitat as open; check current visitor and ticket information before travelling.
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Parking
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Toilets
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Food & drink
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Dogs
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Accessibility
The source row reports a wheelchair-accessible car park and entrance. Check current access details with the venue.
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Cost
Paid
Gallery
Place photographs
Keep exploring
Around Butterfly Paradise
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
